Shaw's Flat, California

{{Short description|Historical place in Tuolumne County, United States}}

{{infobox historic site

| name = Shaw's Flat, California

| image =

| caption =

| locmapin = California#USA

| coordinates = {{coord|38.00369|-120.40143|type:landmark_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}

| location = Shaw's Flat Rd and Mt. Brow Rd, Columbia, California.

| built = 1850, {{age|1849|4|10}} years ago

| built_for =

| architect =

| architecture = mining town

| governing_body =

| designation1 = California

| designation1_date = March 8, 1948

| designation1_number = 395

| pushpin_label =

}}

Shaw's Flat is a historical ghost town and mining town in Columbia, California in Tuolumne County, California. The site of the Shaw's Flat is a California Historical Landmark (No. 395) listed on March 8, 1948.

History

Shaw's Flat was 49 California Gold Rush town founded in 1850.{{cite ohp |395 |Shaw's Flat #395 |2012-10-07}} The town is named after it first settler, Mandeville Shaw. In November 1849, Shaw started an orchard on the eastern slope of Table Mountain. The California Gold Rush started shortly after Shaw's. Nearby Tarleton Caldwell, started Caldwell's Gardens by growing black walnut. Caldwell found gold on his land. James G. Fair found gold and went on to be a United States senator.{{Cite web|url=https://sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/shaws-flat-no-395-california-historical-landmark/05b4e86a-68cc-401a-beee-82723811d59e|title=Shaw's Flat (No. 395 California Historical Landmark) | Sierra Nevada Geotourism|website=sierranevadageotourism.org}}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZniVOdgfQM4 Shaw's Flat, California History youtube.com] Thomas Gilman was an enslaved African American from Tennessee who arrived in California during the gold rush, and was able to self-purchase his freedom two years later from mining at Dragoon Gluch; he lived in Shaw's Flat for most of his life.{{Cite web |date=February 2017 |title=The History of Dragoon Gulch |url=https://sonoraca.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/dragoon-trail-history.pdf |website=City of Sonora}}{{Cite web |title=Thomas Gilman Freedom Papers (Thomas Gilman Collection) |url=https://fromthepage.com/castatelibrary/thomas-gilman-collection/jpgs-from-the-page/about |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=FromThePage |publisher=California State Library}}

The California Historical Marker at the site reads:{{Cite web|url=https://www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com/landmarks/chl-460|title=CHL # 460 Second Garrote Tuolumne|website=www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com}}

{{Quote|"In 1850 this community was alive with gold miners. James D. Fair, after whom the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco is named, was one of the most notable. The Mississippi House, built in 1850, contains many relics including the original bar and post office with its grill and mailboxes. On a nearby hill stands the old bell, given by miners, which summoned men to work and announced the convening of various courts. According to tradition, a local bartender added to his income by panning the gold dust dropped on his muddy boots as he served customers."}}

A historical Shaw's Flat marker is at the Southeast corner of Shaw's Flat Road and Mt. Brow Road. The marker was placed there by Historic Landmark Committee and Tuolumne Parlor No. 144, Native Sons of the Golden West in 1947.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=6811|title=Shaw’s Flat Historical Marker|website=www.hmdb.org}}

References

Category:California Historical Landmarks

Category:History of Tuolumne County, California

Category:1850 in California

Category:1850 establishments in California

Shaw's Flat, California

History

See also

References